Connector plug



1 c. H. JUDISCH ETAL 2,231,239

' CONNECTOR PLUG Filed Feb. 16, 1938 2 Shee r.sShee't 1 INVENTOR URRL H. JUDISCH 'FIFTTHUR HOWHRTH T'EMM )QLMQM ATTORNEY 11, 1941- c. H. JUDISCH ETAL 2,231,289

CONNECTOR PLUG Filed Feb. 16, 1938 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVE NTOR CRRL H. JUDISCH Y HRTHUR HOWHRTH B mu ATTORN EY Patented Feb. "ll, 1941 2,231,289 common PLUG Carl B. Judisch and Arthur Howarth, Providence, R. L, assignors to The Whitney Blake Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application February 16, 1938, Serial No. 190,783

6 Claims. 7 (Cl. 113-361) Our invention relates to improvements in a connector plug assembly comprising a connector plug constructed of rigid or flexible material, a multi-terminal connector cord connected within and a blade for each terminal connected within.

An object of our invention is to provide a con- 7 nector plug, and connector plug assembly which may be constructed oi simple parts and which filed February 14, 1938, for Method or and apparatus for assembling contact blades in connector plugs, in accordance with the method shown therein, by the mere forcible power insertion of the blades within the plug as described in said application. i

A further object of our invention is to provide a structure wherein the positive insertion of the blade within the connector plug positively clamps its respective terminal within its plug without the necessity of any other means for securingthe terminal to the blade or plug. To provide the relatively constricted portions in the blade slits, we preferably construct the inner ends of the blades with teeth on the outer end walls thereof and with a readily expansible interior construction or provide in said assembly cam wedge means i to spread the end walls of the inner portions of said blades into contact with the end walls of the slits to positively cause said teeth to be embedded within the walls or said slit as said blades are in-;

serted within said slits to be permanently retained therein:

A further object of our invention is to provide 'novel diii'erent species of this wedges means whether it be in the blade itself or in the plug.

A further object or our invention is to provide.-. a novel type of plug body be readily assembled and withdrawn from the mold. Further objects of our invention are to provide novel types of blades so constructed that they may be embedded within the plug slits as they are forcibly inserted therein. r

-' and such other objects! our invention" 88 as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate various embodiments thereof.

In the drawings, v

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a. plus assembly constructed in accordance with our invention. 5

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

I Fig. 3 is a'i'ront elevation thereof.

Figs. 4-9 illustrate one embodiment of our invention, Fig. 4 being a tie end elevation illustrating our improved plug and blade 10 prior to the forcible insertion of the blade within the plug with the-cord previously inserted within the plug, a portion of the plug being shown in transverse section: Fig. 5 being a view of the parts shown in Fig. 4 with the inner end of the blade 15 inserted within the plug slit prior to any cam or spreading action of the type of cam or wedge means shown therein; Fig. 8 being a view similar to Fig. 5 after the cammeans has started to function to spread the inner portions of the end walls of the blade to forcibly insert them within the inner portions of the end walls oi their respective slit; Fig. 'I being a view similar to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 showing the plug assembly in completelyassembled relation with the teeth on the inner portions or the blade .end walls embedded within the inner portions of the slit end walls: Fig. 8 being it ditic side elevation illustrating a plluality of blades in alignment prior to their insertion within their respective spaced slits, the' cord ving been previously inserted'within the cen aperture oi the plug and its terminals each projecting outwardly over its respective slit with the plug being shown in longitudinal section and in general being a side elevation of the parts shown lung. 4 inend elevation; and Fig. 9 being aviewsimilartol 'ig atterthebladeshavebeen usrtongsemoianembodimentoiourinvul gs tion employing a di'il'erent tyne oi'cam wedse meanstospreadtheinnerportionsottheblalle 'endwallstoembedtheteetbthereoi withinthe innerportionsoitheirrespectiveslitendwails, saidwedgemeanscomprisingan'angibleportlonso ontheendoithebiadewhichbeoomesbroken durlnginsertiontoachievethisresuit. f 7

Figs. lit-21 are views respeotivelygmerally similartomHlndm-fioianembodlment cam means to spread the inner portions of the blade end walls to embed the teeth thereof within the inner portions of their respective adjacent slit end walls, said cam means comprising an'apertured and slitted enlargeable portion on the end of each blade.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, i0 generally indicates a connector plug assembly constructed in accordance with ourinvention. Said assembly includes a connector plug body it, a multi-terminal connector cord l5 having the end thereof contained within a central aperture It in said plug and having the terminal wires l8 thereof bared and separated at the inner end thereof and a flat contact blade 20 for each terminal thereof adapted to be rigidly contained when assembled within a respective slit 22 therefor in the connector plug, The one piece body i2 is preferably molded of rigid insulating composition material such as Bakelite, cellulose acetate, hard rubber, etc. but may, if desired be molded of flexible material. Said body is provided with a base 26, in our preferred embodiment having an inset central portion 25, a neck 26 and a central aperture i6 extending from said neck 2% through said body E2 to said inset base portion 25. Said body 52 also has spaced longitudinal slits 22 extending inwardly from the base thereof in our preferred embodiment adjacent the outer end of said inset portion 25, and on opposite sides of and connected to said central aperture IS, in our preferred embodiment, by said inset base portion 25. We also provide flat contact blade members 26, one for each terminal, in our preferred embodiment shown two, one for each terminal, of the double terminal connector cord it having the inner ends thereof contained within said slits 22 and having teeth "28 on the' end walls of said blades to become embedded in' the end wall portions 32 of said slits as said blades 22 are forcibly inserted within said slits to be permanently retained therein. Inasmuch as each terminal 18 of its double terminal connector cord projects prior to assembly outwardly over its respective slit 22, when assembled it will extend through its respective blade aperture 3 5 and have the end 35 thereof clamped between each outer blade side wall 38 and adjacent slit side wall 48.

It is thus apparent that during assembly the cam wedge means functions to enlarge the enlargeable inner portion 42 of each respective blade as said blade 20 is being assembled in its respective slit 22 to positively embed the teeth 28 thereof in the adjacent portions 32 of the slit wall and to firmly clamp the end 36 of the terminal between the outer surface of its respective struction provides an assembly which may be assembled in accordance with the method of and on the type of machine shown in our aforedescribed copending application.

As stated, we have shown in the drawings three difle'rent species of toothed cam means in the plug assembly to enlarge the enlargeable portions d2 of said blades as they enter the relatively restricted portion 53 of said slits 22 to positively cause the teeth 28 to become embedded in the slit end walls. In the embodiment of our invention shown in Figs. 4 9, we provide as this em- -width than said V-shaped wedge, whereby said wedges dd may expand said slots dB and hence legs 68 formed on the inner end of each blade to cause said toothed inner portions 36 of the end walls of said blades to become embedded in the adjacent end wall portions 32 of said slits 22 as said blades are inserted within said slits 22 to cause said blades to be permanently retained within said slits. Figs. 4-7 show various steps in the method of assembly of this embodiment, Fig. 4 showing the blade aligned with its respective slit, Fig. 5 showing the blade partially inserted within its respective slit with the inner ends of the legs is starting to contact the walls of the wedge at. Fig. 6 showing the wedge 4d starting to spread the legs 88 of the blade and Fig. 7 showing the legs dd of the blade completely spread by the wedge M so that the teeth 28 thereof are positively embedded in the end walls of the slits. Figs. 8 and 9 are side elevations respectively similar to Figs. 4 and 7, Fig. 9, however, showing each .shaped slot at extending loosely through said aperture as a space 56 is provided between the 'upper end of the wedge M and crotch of the V- shaped slot it without any clamping engagement at this point and having the end 38 thereof firmly clamped between the outer blade side wall 38 and adjacent slit side wall dd. v

Figs. 10-15 illustrate the identical steps of assembly and the functioning of a different ement of our invention. In this instance. however, the cam wedge means instead of comprising the wedge M integrally projecting upwardly from the inner end of its respective slit 22, comprises the triangular shaped wedge M of greater width than the width of the v-shaped slot 36' having the upper end thereof integrally frangibiy attached to a leg 48 of said blade 26 by the frangible internal connection 52 Joining an outer top edge of the wedge to the adjacent inner top edge of a blade leg 38 so that at all times the point of the wedge 44' lies in position to project upwardly within the slot 42 on fracture of said frangible portion 52. On the further forcible insertion of said blade within its respective slit 22 from a position shown in Fig. 11 to the position shown in Fig. 12, the frangible portion 52 becomes broken so that the wedge 44' may remain in the bottom of the slit 22 to function identically to the wedge M in the assembly of the blade within as described for the embodi ment shown in Figs. 6 and '1, the functioning of the other parts being similar to that described for the first embodiment.

Figs. 16-21 illustrate an embodiment having a third alternative species of cam means. In this embodiment the cam means is constructed as follows: An enlarged aperture 34" is provided at the inner end of a respective blade 20" through which the outer end 36 of the terminal is adapted 34 to an outer end wall of the blade, said slit prior to insertion being of substantial depth. Upon the forcibleinsertion of such a constructed blade 20 within its slit 22, it is obvious that the aperture 54 will be fast-narrowed and the upper end of the blade portion 56 below said slit 54 will strike the blade portion 58 above said'slit to cause the enlargeable portion 42" of the blade around said aperture 34" to expand from the position shown in Fig. 18 to the position, shown in Fig. 19 to cause the teeth 28 on the inner end of said blade to become embedded in their respective inner portions 32 of the end walls of the slits, the end 36 of the terminal being clamped between the outer side wall 38 of the blade and the adjacent outer slit wall 40 as in the other embodiments.

It is apparent therefore that we have provided novel types of connector blades and plugs and connector plug assemblies shown, which may be readily assembled by the mere positive insertion of the blades within their respective slits with the advantages explained above. I

It is understood that our invention is not limited to the various embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A connector plug assembly, comprising a one piece body member molded of rigid insulating material having a base having an inset central portion, a neck, a central aperture extending from said neck through said body to said inset base portion, spaced longitudinal slits extending inwardly from said base adjacent the outer ends of said inset portion and flat contact blade members initially of less width than the slits having the inner ends thereof contained within said slits and substantially filling the upper portions thereof and having teeth on theinner portions of the end walls thereof embedded'within the inner portions of the end walls of said slits, and apertures in the inner ends thereof, cam wedge means in said plug assembly to cause said toothed inner portions of the end walls of said blades to become embedded in the adjacent end wall portions of said slits as said blades are inserted within said slits and be retained therein, and a multi-terminal connector cord contained within the central aperture having each terminal wire thereof extending outwardly over said inset base portion through its respective blade aperture and the end thereof clamped between each outer blade side wall and adjacent slit side wall.

2. A connector plug assembly, comprising a one piece body member having a base,a neck, a central aperture extending from said neck through said body, spaced longitudinal slits extending inwardly from said base connected to said .central aperture, flat contact blade members initially of less width than the slits having the inner ends thereof contained within said slits and substantially filling the upper portions thereof and having teeth on the inner portions of the end walls thereof embedded within the inner portions of the end walls of said slits, and apertures in the inner ends thereof, cam; wedge means in said plug assembly to cause said toothed inner portions of the end walls of said blades to become embedded in the adjacent end wall portions of said slits as said blades are inserted within said slits and be retained therein, and a. multi-terminal connector cord contained within the central aperture having each terminal wire thereof extending outwardly through its respecone piece body member having a base, a neck,

a central aperture extending from said neck through said body, spaced longitudinal slits extending inwardly from said base connected to said central aperture, a V-shaped longitudinal wedge projecting upwardly from the inner end ofeach slit, flat contact blade members having the inner ends thereof contained within said slits and having teeth on the inner portions of the end walls thereof embedded within the inner portions of the end walls of said slits, and each having a cooperating V-shaped longitudinal slot in the inner end thereof of less width than said V-shaped wedge whereby said wedges may expand said slots to cause said toothed inner portions of the end walls of said blades to become embedded in the adjacent wall portions of said slits as said blades are inserted within said slits and be retained therein, and a multi-terminal connector cord contained within the central aperture having each terminal wire thereof extending outwardly through the outer end of said- V-shaped slot and the end thereof clamped be said central aperture, each having a V-shaped longitudinal wedge projecting integrally upwardly from the inner wall of each slit, flat contact blade members having the inner ends thereof contained within said slits and having teeth on the inner portions of the end walls thereof embedded within the-inner portions of the end walls of said slits, and each having a cooperating V-shaped longitudinal slot in the inner end thereof of less width than said V-shaped wedge whereby said wedges may expand said slots to cause said toothed inner portions of the end walls of said blades to become embedded in the adjacelnt wall portioris of said slits as said blades are inserted within said slits and be retained therein,-and a multi-terminal connector cord contained within the central aperture having each terminal wire thereof extending outwardly through the outer end of said V-shaped slot and theend thereof clamped between each outer blade side wall and adjacent slit side wall. s

5. A connector plug assembly, comprising a one piece body member having a base, a neck, a central aperture extending from said neck through said body, Spaced longitudinal slits extending inwardly from said base connected to said central aperture, flat contact blade members having the inner ends thereof contained within said slits having teeth on the inner portions of the end walls thereof embedded within the inner portions of the end walls of said slits, each having a V-shaped longitudinal slot in the inner end thereof, and a triangular portion of greater width than said V-shaped slot integrally frangibly attached to one end thereof and extending underneath said slot prior to from said slits to expand said V-shaped slots to cause said toothed inner portions of the end walls of saidblades to become embedded in the adjacent wall portions of said slits as said blades are inserted within said slits and be retained therein, and a multi-terminal connector cord contained within the central aperture having each terminal wire thereof extending outwardly through the outer end or said V-shaped slot and the end thereof clamped between each outer blade side wall and adjacent slit side wall.

6. A connector plug assembly, comprising a one piece body member having a base, a neck, a central aperture extending from said neck through said body, spaced longitudinal slits exthe inner portions of the end walls of said slits, each having prior to insertion an enlarged aperture in the inner end thereof and a slit extending from said aperture to an outer end wall whereby on forcible insertion of said blades within said body slits the inner ends of said blades around said apertures may expand to cause said toothed inner portions of the end walls of said blades to become embedded in I the adjacent wall portions of said slits as said blades are inserted within said slits and be retained therein, and a multi-terminal connector cord contained within the central aperture having each terminal wire thereof extending outwardly through its respective blade aperture and the end thereof clamped between each outer blade side wall and adjacent slit side wall.

CARL H. JUDISCH.

ARTHUR HOWARTH. 20 

